WE
Contemporary dance & Live music
Who counts as human? Whose lives count as lives? Let’s face it! A performance that calls upon what binds us, unites us, and moves us. Or, how to create a "we", a sense of community.
At the crossroads of contemporary dance, the ritual dance of semah, and music, “WE” draws on Anatolian esotericism and contemporary philosophy to explore the concepts of unity in diversity, empathy, and universal ethics.
“WE” was created for the Modern Dance Ensemble (MDTist) of the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet (IDOB). The piece is part of MDTist’s repertoire.
© Julien Aksoy
Three dancers embark on an intimate journey, diving deep into their memory and their bodies, moving between conflict and communion, strength and vulnerability, life and death… They venture to uncover what creates the “us” and brings it to life.
Cem Yildiz, the renowned musician who distinctly re-interprets the Anatolian âshiks (troudabours and poets) tradition by introducing psychedelic and acid folk elements, joins and guides the djem (alevi-bektashi ritual) with his electro-acoustic musical universe.
A worldly ritual, a contemporary prayer about “we” that invites us, beyond our geographical and historical differences, to come closer, to reconcile with one another.
To confront our own stories. About “we.” And about those whose loss we couldn’t mourn, whom we couldn’t send off with love…
Concept and choreography by dancer-choreographer-director Bedirhan Dehmen, whose works have been staged at Moda Sahnesi, Istanbul Modern Art Museum, Maxim Gorki Theater (Berlin), Suzanne Dellal Center (Tel Aviv), Pavillon Noir (Aix-en-Provence) …
Music and live performance by Cem Yildiz, “Modern-day Troubadour” and multi-instrumentalist who merges psychedelic Anatolian music with acid folk. He has performed in many world-famous electronic music festivals, from Montreux Jazz Festival to Sonar Barcelona.
PRODUCTION
Created with and Performed by Bedirhan Dehmen, Canberk Yıldız, Cem Yıldız, Mihran Tomasyan
Concept and Choreography Bedirhan Dehmen
Music Cem Yıldız
Lighting Design Kerem Çetinel
Costumes Günsu Sarı
Social Media Planning Ponte Dijital
Production Biz Platform
Management Caféturc Music & Arts
Duration: 50 min.
“WE” PERFORMED
In Türkiye Istanbul Modern Art Museum, Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, Byzantine Basilica Cistern (Istanbul), Cer Modern Museum (Ankara), Saint Bedros Armenian Church (Gaziantep), Şanlıurfa Archaeological Museum, Bosphorus University (Istanbul), Ankara Theatre Festival, Karşıyaka City Opera and Theatre (Izmir), Moda Sahnesi (Istanbul) ...
Abroad Les Halles de Schaerbeek (Brussels, Europalia Arts Festival), Seoul International Dance Festival (South Korea), Akropoditi Dance and Performing Arts Festival (Greece), Maxim Gorki Theater (Berlin, Voicing Resistance Festival), Suzanne Dellal Center (Tel Aviv, Summer Dance Festival) ...
© Murat Dürüm
© Murat Dürüm
© Murat Dürüm
AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
"How to reach the very essence of dance!”
Şebnem Selışık Aslan, academic and founder of the National Conservatory of Contemporary Dance at Mimar Sinan University.
"Timeless piece of work"
Beyhan Murphy, founder and artistic director of the Modern Dance Ensemble (MDTist) of the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet.
“A breathtaking performance about unity broken and then rebuilt”
Itır Erhart, professor, academic, and social entrepreneur.
MEDIA
AGOS, Armenian newspaper from Istanbul // Link
We become “We” when we embrace the mourning of the other
Rast Magazine // Link
Seeking unity in multiplicity: “We”
Theatre journal MIMESIS // Link
A secular ritual: “We”
Sinibaldo De Rosa // Link
More than Hybrid: Movement dramaturgy in the aftermath of the Gezi protests
© Murat Dürüm
© Murat Dürüm
VIDEOS
